Are you ready for the Halloween Hare to visit your garden?
Did you set aside a few pieces of candy to appease him when he makes his midnight witching-hour call on your garden?
What will he find? Or rather what will he not find? And if he doesn’t find what he’s looking for – oh the horror! WHAT WILL HE DO TO YOUR GARDEN??
For those who are now confused or who’ve never heard of the Halloween Hare, here is some background information:
According to ancient gardening legend, the Halloween Hare hops from garden to garden on Halloween night looking for Easter candy not found in the spring Easter egg hunt. If the Halloween Hare doesn’t find any candy, he will create a little havoc in the garden by pulling up plants or turning over containers. Many gardeners, hoping to avoid this mischief and havoc, will leave a few pieces of Halloween candy out in the garden for the Halloween Hare to find. Sightings of the Halloween Hare are rare.
Be ready! Straighten up your garden a bit and while you are doing that…
– Provide a clear path to the front door and on the front porch for the Trick-or-Treaters by removing containers and pots that they might not see in the dark. Remember they often travel in groups walking side by side so they need a wide path to the front door.
– Sacrifice a pumpkin to make a nice jack-o-lantern. Or get out your fake electric one like I do, plug it in, and you are all set. Mine has proudly served for at least 15 Halloweens!
– Rake leaves off the front walk, especially if it is going to rain, like it might here, so no one has an extra chance of falling. It’s a known fact that Trick-or-Treaters like to run and it is almost guaranteed they will fall down a few times. Just don’t let it be on your front walk.
– Skip your brilliant idea of giving tulip bulbs to the Trick-or-Treaters and give them candy instead.
– And no matter what, even if you think it sounds dumb, throw a few pieces of candy out into the garden for the Halloween Hare to find!
Management here at May Dreams Gardens will not be responsible for what might happen if you don’t!
That hare is NEVER going to find his way up here! And thank God there are no trick or treaters in Spain… oh dear I do sound like a killjoy don't I!
Hmmm…sems as though the the Halloween Iguana made his way into my garden last night, 1 red Shrimp plant destroyed. Stupid iguana.
Scott
Yikes, I have one of those… I'd better toss out some appeasement. We don't want one of 'em a-hoppin' on our heads.
I have never heard of this! I always thought it was the "great pumpkin" we had to appease.
I will be sure to leave a treat for it. My kids are going to love this story.THanks
Rosey
Cute post! My Halloween Hare dresses up in a costume — as a mole!
I'm so excited about the Halloween Hare! Do you think he'd like some home-brew? I'm assuming it's a he! Hilarious post, I loved the old stories as well. I may go as a Double Purple Frill this year, then I can wear my lavender crocs…thanks for the ideas!
If they aren't eating my plants they will eat my candy. At least candy is cheaper. Maybe I'll put out extra and the Hare will leave me alone in the spring as well. H.
Thanks for the reminder about the plug-in plastic jack o'lantern. I've forgotten to bring mine up. I don't think I'll be putting any candy out for the Halloween Hare. The raccoons would get to it first.
Beware the Halloween Hare. Even though we don't get trick-or-treaters here, I'll remember the hare. Don't want any messes in the morning. Thanks for the warning.
I giggled when I read this Carol. I found a plastic egg in the pot out front just the other day. I thought it had been there so long I might as well leave it. Now I am glad. Maybe the Halloween Hare will find it and take it away.
Oh goodness, well I know one year I made some candy seekers mad by handing out coupons for a fast food treat. So I'm supposing that the Halloween Hare doesn't give a hoot about that either.
Hi Carol, the candy is stocked and ready, although we seldom get many trick or treaters on our block, it is way out of the way and most porch lights are turned off. But we always have a few Reese's peanut butter cups just in case an intrepid visitor knocks on the door. Your ideas are good, very good. In Texas we had a silly step from the driveway to the front door that nearly every child tripped on. I should have left the bowl of candy on the step, or sat there with it. In a densely populated subdivision, we had hundreds of trick or treaters, much fun! I must throw the candy out back too. But the squirrels, skunks, racoons, and groundhogs might beat the Hare to the goodies.
Frances
Since I bought mostly chocolate candy for Halloween (I want to make sure if I have any leftovers, they're something I like, right?), I don't think I'd better throw any outside or Sophie would find it, and chocolate is a definite no-no for dogs.
I'm trying to catch up this morning on blog reading after spending most of the week on the couch with the flu. Your last post really hit home with me, except I keep thinking of how time is "slip, slippin' away." Where did October go? So much to do yet in the garden, and another day of rain!
BTW, thanks for the suggestion for my next ABC post on "P." I don't have any good ideas yet, but I think Purdue is doing just fine without any promotion from me:)
HI! i have never heard of the Hallowe'en Hare! very interesting!
we will of course give an offering to him…we do for the jays,skunks,possums,etc. anyway.
we,toohad a "bright idea"- but we thought sunflower seeds…
Thanks for the cool post!